She’s lying on my chest, totally conked out, and I’m hoping it lasts at least until Maggie wakes up.
I’m about to drift off myself until I hear the faint buzzing of my phone. I don’t even bother looking at the screen. I just pick up. Mickey’s learned to do laundry without shrinking everything, so he’s been our one-man laundry service, and I’m guessing he’s calling to see if now’s a good time to stop by.
“You ready for more shitty laundry?” I ask.
“Uh…no?” An unfamiliar voice comes through the line.
“Oh, god. Sorry. Uh, who’s this?”
“JT, buddy, you okay? This is Vince DeAngelis. I know we haven’t talked in a while, but I’ve got good news.”
My heart rate slides back into the normal range as I realize my agent is calling.
Holy shit. Why is my agent calling?
“Hi, Vince. Sorry about that.”
“It’s all good. You sitting down?”
I’m lying on a too-short sofa with my daughter cradled to my chest. I think that counts. “Yeah, what’s up?”
“Portland’s ready for you.”
It takes longer than it should for me to process those four words.
“What?” I sputter.
With great patience, Vince repeats himself. “They called up Hughes, but he’s not working out, so they’re looking for other talent. Your name is at the top of the list.”
Portland is ready for me.
It’s happening.
I’ll be doing what I love and making a life for my family.
Holy. Fuckballs.
Those words should be screamed at the top of my lungs, but Calla is fast asleep and so is Maggie, and I don’t want to risk waking them, so I settle for a silent scream.
Calla.
Maggie.
My girls are here. In Maryland.
I can’t go to Portland.
“Come again? JT, did you just say you can’t go to Portland?”
I guess I said that out loud. “Uh, yeah. Vince, I’ve got kind of a unique situation here.”
“Hate to break it to you, Norris, but I’ve been an agent for twenty-seven years. Nobody’s unique. But go ahead.”
“I’m a dad.”
“Try again,” he says, imitating a buzzer.
“My girlfriend had our daughter last week. She’s so little. I can’t leave her. Or Maggie, my girlfriend. I’m her support system right now. Leaving just doesn’t feel right.”
